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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to George MacNie Cowie
17th. October 1914.
Very Illustrious Sir Knight and Most Wise and Excellent Councillor of His Most Sacred Majesty and Most Dear Brother.
I was just writing to you when I received your telegram, to which I replied. I enclose you a cheque for £2.2.0 from Brother Steff Langston [William Steff-Langston], for which you should send him a receipt; it is for his diploma. I also enclose you a little circular called "The Polite Better Writer".
Murray Leslie[1] sent me a postcard to say all was well, and that he had forwarded my correspondence to the principal. She apparently lives in the country, but I dare say you will hear early next week.
Things are now looking very much better in other directions. It seems possible that we may raise sufficient money to clear off all liabilities, but I dare say it may take some time to complete the transaction. The European situation, however appears very bad, and I do not think that the organized lying of the press will help it. I met a lady yesterday who had come back from Antwerp. She says there is very little of it left, and quite concurs with the criticism of the Morning Post, the only newspaper left to us with even the smallest regard for ordinary decency. I dare say you have by now got a copy of Radclyffe's [Raymond Radclyffe] pamphlet "The War and Finance", if not, do so; Smith's book-stalls keep it. I gather too that there is a great deal of distress in London, and of course it is carefully kept out of the papers. There is no doubt that we must have conscription. The doctor called yesterday and said that I might now make experiments in walking, but must be pretty careful for the next two months. There is some hope too, of mother [Leila Waddel] getting on again, and if she can get a long tour in South America, it will be splendid. However, in case none of this comes off, I think it is best to dig ourselves in for the winter, and the first step appears to me is to transfer the lease of the studio to the trustees; I presume you would have no objection. I should like to know at once, so that I may sound the landlord. I have no plans at present, nor can have, until I know how these various affairs may work out. If my calculations are right, the O.T.O. as it stands at present, is just about solvent. The Boleskine rent nearly covers the payment of interest, the rates of Boleskine, and the rent and rates of the studio. The small balance is much more than made good by subscriptions. Of course, at any moment one might find a really strong sound man to turn solvency into wealth beyond dreams of avarice.
Yours in the Bonds of the Order,
1—[Boleskine House was being rented to Dr William Murray Leslie M.D, C.M, FRCS (Edin) (1859-1951) for £250 per year so that the bank loan on the house could be paid. Dr Leslie was a Scottish physician and barrister and he attempted to treat Rose Kelly for her alcoholism.]
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